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Only a handful of competitions can hold spectators spellbound through 45 minutes of ceremony before the initial score is even contested.

Yet the intricate traditions unfolding in a compact earthen circle - largely unaltered for generations - accomplished exactly that.

Discover the Prestigious Rikishi Event

This multi-day tournament at the Royal Albert Hall features 40 of the very best sumo athletes showcasing a sport whose initial documentation dates back to the first century BC.

London's renowned auditorium has been utterly transformed, complete with a six-tonne Japanese temple roof hanging above the competition area.

Ancient Traditions Meet Contemporary Displays

It is here the competitors, known as sumo wrestlers, perform their shiko exercises to expel evil spirits, and where they strike their hands to summon the divine beings.

Above all this traditional ritual, a enormous circular monitor - which wouldn't look out of place at an American basketball game - offers the crowd all the statistics and footage they could want.

International Enthusiasts Find Sumo

For one dedicated fan, it was a "chance online clip" that first drew her interest a couple of years ago.

This was soon supplemented with the discovery of specialized online content for rikishi houses, where athletes reside and practice, rising before dawn to practice, followed by a protein-rich meal and then an afternoon nap - all in the effort toward increasing mass.

Traveling from the North, Different Experience

Another couple discovered sumo through a conventional method: a trip to Japan six years ago.

"We saw it as a very touristy activity, but we actually ended up loving the sport," notes the enthusiast.

"Subsequently, we tried to locate groups, information, just to expand our knowledge about it," the other fan explains.

Special Event

Traveling to Asia is almost the only way to see a top-flight sumo tournament.

This week's event marks only the second time the tournament has visited the city - the initial occasion was in the early nineties.

Even visiting the country isn't certain of securing tickets, with current times seeing sold-out events.

In-Person Viewing

For numerous spectators, the current event represents the premier chance they have experienced the sport directly - and it doesn't disappoint.

"Watching nearby, you get a understanding of quickness and the force which you don't get on TV," explains an attendee. "They are so big."

The Bouts

To achieve victory, one rikishi needs to move the other man from the dohyō or to the ground using brute strength.

The primary group use one of pair of techniques to accomplish this, often in instantaneous actions - shoving, or wrestling.

Either way, the impact of the two wrestlers colliding in the initial contact of the match reverberates around the venue.

Premium Seating

The seats right next to the competition area are of course extremely sought-after - but also, a bit risky.

During one specific contest, a tall wrestler went plummeting into the spectators - perhaps making those in more affordable locations breathe a sigh of relief.

Behind the Scenes

Of course, the dimensions of the athletes is one of the primary elements most people consider when they think of sumo.

The facility's operators revealed they "had to source and acquire reinforced furniture which can withstand 200kg in weight."

But sumo - for all its popular tournaments - is not without its troubles behind the scenes.

Potential Issues

Perhaps the rigorous lifestyle of a sumo wrestler doesn't look as desirable as it once might have.

Its appeal among young Japanese is also being threatened by other sports, while Japan's decreasing numbers will create further complications.

Global Community

Not that any of this has concerned enthusiasts in London.

"Seeing all this ritual and ceremony that is part of sumo is especially significant," one enthusiast notes. "Currently, observing it live, you experience being you are more engaged."

For other committed supporters, the drama "made it so incredible" - as did interacting with the like-minded individuals.

"Getting out of a highly specialized online community and being able to see all these sumo fans in person and being able to chat with other people who are equally passionate as we are - it was completely valuable."